Prettifying Your Paper Stationery

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I am sucker for pretty stationery, and I couldn't resist this pattern when I saw it in Paper Source. So I decided to incorporate more heat embossing, while adding another prettifying technique.

For a full lesson on heat embossing, you can visit my last post that highlights the ingredients.

For the first step of this prettifying project, I used the following:

• Thank You Stamp
• Love Stamp
• Watermark Stamp Pad
• Heat Tool
• Princess Gold Embossing Powder
• White Embossing Powder

As you can see from the links above, and the pictures below I used Paper Source products. However, your local craft store should have heat embossing products. For example, Hobby Lobby, JO-ANN, and Michaels carry their own lines of heat embossing products. 

Before I sealed and delivered these thank you cards to the recipients, I was inspired by the pretty papers in Paper Source and decided to add an envelope liner.

For this second prettifying project, you will need: 

• Pretty Paper
• Double-Sided Tape
• Envelope Liner Template Kit. I purchased a template kit, but you can wing it and try to make your own envelope liner templates.  

Follow these very simple steps to create a dramatic look. I measured my envelope liner template on the paper, and then cut accordingly. Then I used the double-sided tape to adhere the paper to the inside of the envelope liner. It is important to use tape and not glue, because glue will ruin the paper. And voila! As simple as that!

How do you prettify your stationery?

How To: Embossing Powder

Thank you for visiting. I now have a new home at www.countrypeony.com. I hope you will find me there.

As a girl I loved giving/receiving handwritten letters. As an adult I love receiving handwritten letters even more, because they are a nice departure from the routine bills that hit my mailbox. When I write letters I try to personalize them so the receiver knows how much I care. 

To thank the attendees of my son's first birthday party, I wanted to try something different with the thank you letters. I visited Paper Source and fell in love with many of their products, especially their embossing powder tools. I decided to purchase some embossing powder essentials, and I am thrilled that I did. 

For this project, you will need:

• Stationery. I purchased my woodland-themed cards from Paper Source. 
• VersaMarker Pen
• Rubber Stamp
• Embossing Powder
• Stamp Pad
• Embossing Heat Tool
• Piece of Paper to collect the powder

As you can see from the links above, and the pictures below I used Paper Source products. However, your local craft store should have heat embossing products. For example, Hobby Lobby, JO-ANN, and Michaels carry their own lines of heat embossing products. 

To personalize the stationery I used the VersaMarker pen to write out "thank you". This pen allows for a lot of flexibility in your design. 

With the paper underneath I dusted the embossing powder onto the inked surface of the stationery. 

Without touching the "thank you" on the card, I removed the excess powder. 

From here I set the card aside and rolled the paper up while keeping all of the powder inside of the rolled paper. Then I placed the excess powder back into the container for later use. 

This is where it gets fun! I turned the heat gun on. I let it get hot (about 15 seconds) and then I slowly grazed the gun over the powdered "thank you". Right before my eyes the powder turned into a beautiful, shiny, textured, permanent message. It was like magic! I was hooked!

I had so much fun adding the "thank you" note to the front of the card I wanted to add something special to the envelope seal. This time I used the stamp and stamp pad. 

I absolutely love the effect that heated embossing powder brings to paper. The finished product is determinant on where the powder falls, and this makes for a very special and unique product every time.